NCP Reclaims Power in Pune Zilla Parishad with Impressive Gains
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has staged a remarkable comeback in the Pune zilla parishad elections, securing a commanding victory by winning 51 out of the 73 seats that went to polls on Saturday. This performance marks a significant improvement from the 2017 elections, where the party had clinched 44 seats, underscoring its strengthened foothold in the region.
Panchayat Samiti Results Cement NCP's Supremacy
In a parallel triumph, the NCP emerged as the dominant force in the Panchayat Samiti elections across Pune district, bagging 78 seats out of 146. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) trailed far behind with 24 seats, while Shiv Sena secured 11 seats. Notably, the Shiv Sena (UBT) managed to win 10 seats, whereas the Congress failed to open its account, highlighting a stark political shift.
Tribute to Late Ajit Pawar's Tireless Campaigning
Party officials were quick to credit this electoral success to the "tireless efforts" of the late Ajit Pawar, the NCP's national president who tragically died in a plane crash during the campaigning phase. "The results are a tribute to the work and tireless efforts of late Ajitdada Pawar," stated NCP state president Sunil Tatkare, emphasizing his pivotal role in strategizing and mobilizing support.
Detailed Breakdown of Seat Wins Across Talukas
The NCP's victory was widespread, with notable performances in key talukas:
- In Baramati, Ajit Pawar's hometown, the party won all six Zilla Parishad seats and 10 Panchayat Samiti seats, while conceding two seats to the BJP for the first time.
- Maval taluka saw the NCP sweep all five Zilla Parishad seats.
- In Daund taluka, the party secured 6 out of 7 Zilla Parishad seats, with the BJP winning one.
- The Indapur taluka witnessed the NCP's best performance, winning all eight contested Zilla Parishad seats, leaving the BJP with zero wins despite contesting all seats.
- In Junnar taluka, the NCP won four out of seven Zilla Parishad seats, with the BJP taking three.
Overall, the BJP contested 58 Zilla Parishad seats but could only manage 10 wins, while the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena won five of 38 contested seats. The NCP (SP) secured one seat out of eight, and the Shiv Sena (UBT) won six of 26 seats, with the Congress drawing a blank in all 26 contests.
Emotional Victory and Future Commitments
Sambhaji Holkar, NCP Pune president, reflected on the bittersweet nature of the win: "This victory belongs to late Ajitdada Pawar. He had picked winning candidates, devised a winning strategy, and put in hard effort. Though it is a victory for NCP, it is a sad victory for us as we have lost our precious party president. The party will continue to walk in the path shown by him."
In a symbolic gesture, all winners in Baramati taluka met Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar on Monday, expressing their resolve to remain committed to the taluka's development. They paid respects by offering a floral wreath at Ajit Pawar's portrait, honoring his legacy.
Historical Context and Political Implications
Shivajirao Adhalrao-Patil, a former MP, highlighted the NCP's longstanding dominance: "The NCP has ruled Pune Zilla Parishad for two decades since 2004. This time, the party has won more seats than in the past, proving its continued supremacy in local governance." This victory not only reinforces the NCP's political clout in Maharashtra but also sets the stage for future electoral battles, with the party poised to leverage this momentum in upcoming polls.
